Good Morning,
The sun is out for the second straight Saturday. And since it’s getting deeper into June now, we fully anticipate the mountain to be hopping with people today. So bank on seeing plenty of crowds on trail, on the roads, and throughout the park’s gateway communities. The hazy conditions will persist, but skies will remain clear of clouds for otherwise. Temps will also be a bit warmer for us today to top, as we should ascend into the mid 60s. It will certainly feel great for an afternoon snack break at places like Myrtle Point. It appears as though our sunny streak will conclude by tomorrow. Sunday is calling for a healthy dose of rain and storms, so best get your sunshine fix in today. Have a great weekend.
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Good Morning,
We have another sunny but hazy day ahead of us. Our region is still on the outskirts of the wildfire junk blowing down from Canada, putting our air quality concerns at moderate. So be mindful if you are someone with respiratory limitations seeking to exert themselves in an outdoor activity today. Temps will continue to be cool up top, only tapping the upper 50s today along with light winds. Tomorrow will be slightly warmer, and hopefully the winds shift enough to blow this haze and smoke elsewhere. Because it’s set to be another sunny Saturday in the Smokies, expect the park to be bustling with crowds. The Catawba Rhododendron continue to bloom at higher elevations with each passing week. Aside from what’s more protected in the shade, most blooms at Inspiration Point have wilted. But from just below the bluffs on up to what we locals refer to as Monotony Ridge they are going strong. The Mountain Laurel and fragrant Dwarf Rhododendron are beginning to work their way in down low as well. Plenty of color to offset the greenery as we march toward summer. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
It’s an oddly looking sky from our vantage point today. Clouds have been holding firm as long as they can to the peaks, but anywhere the sun has tried to break through exposes a soupy haze. It seems that our typically reduced visibility as we get closer to summer is being aided along by smoke from wildfires blowing this far down from Canada. And although the air gives off a dry heat vibe, there is plenty of moisture to soak one thoroughly while ascending the mountain. Take heed though, temps are going to be a bit chillier today and tomorrow, with highs only scraping the mid 50s. Combined with breezy conditions, it won’t take long for one to feel the chill after reaching the top and taking a break. It will get a little warmer heading into the weekend which is calling for sunny skies to start. Some recent trail news from the mountain. NPS crews recently reopened the road to Porters Creek a couple weeks ago, and have now just cleared the often forgotten Brushy Mountain Trail. It is the longest pathway to the lodge, connecting the Greenbrier sector of Mt. LeConte’s base to Trillium Gap. And we just received word that a freshly fallen tree has come down on Bull Head Trail, somewhere above “The Pulpit” stone table near the path’s halfway point. It sounds to be quite hazardous for passage, so visitors are advised to take any of the mountain’s other trails at this time. Have a great rest of the day. Good Morning,
One blink and we’re already a full week into June! We remained dry yesterday despite spending much of the day in the cool clouds. The hazy conditions have returned to the mountains this week, obscuring distant views beyond the nearest ridges and valleys. Skies will start out with a mix of sun and clouds today before the rain and storm chances arrive this afternoon. Precip possibilities will persist during the night but clear out by Thursday morning. After that, the next few days should be delightful for time spent in the mountains. Going to be somewhat cool up top today with high temps in the 50s. Also will feel the breeze a bit more with gusts up around 25mph at times. Definitely going to want some warm and dry layers handy today. Have a great day. Good Morning,
We have a mix of sun, clouds, and tiny speckles of rain across the Smokies this Monday morning. It will continue to be a mixed bag of treats until this afternoon when the forecast swings more in favor of producing some storms. Even at that, any storms that come to fruition today should be brief and infrequent. Going to be mild up top again today with temps tagging the mid 60s along with light winds. Tuesday looks promising with more sunshine being called for than possible precip. Now that we’re decently into June, the haze and humidity is here to stay. But at our elevation there’s some reprieve compared to what’s endured down below these next couple months. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Well, as anticipated it has been a busy couple of days on the mountain. And with such delightful weather to help us kick off the first weekend in June, it all makes sense. Travelers were able to enjoy sunny skies and warm temps all day yesterday. It wasn’t until early evening that clouds began thickening in earnest over the mountains while some produced brief rain showers. Today will start out decent as well, but by mid afternoon we’re looking at stronger rain and storm possibilities. Probably won’t be as warm today either with a high temp only in the lower 60s. Have a great day. Good Morning,
To no surprise, the mountain was a beehive of activity yesterday. The trails were lined with people from top to bottom, early and often. And with stellar weather on tap again today, we figure on seeing more of the same. Count on trailhead parking spaces filling up early and roads in and out of the area being thoroughly congested. Skies should bring plenty of sunshine at least thru the afternoon. Clouds could form later on and might just squeak out a laugher of a rain shower, otherwise conditions for time in the woods today will be pleasant. High temps at the lodge will climb into the upper 60s. The weather for Sunday will start nice but the possibility of storms in the afternoon will be much greater. Have the rain gear handy just in case. Sometimes you round a corner and almost come nose to nose with a beautiful black bear. Fret not, as many of those found in the Smokies have no interest in people, so long as all visitors behave responsibly around wildlife. This bear, seen a mile down Alum Cave, had only foraging on its mind. Remember, this is their home, and they live just fine on what comes naturally in these mountains…nuts, berries, and bugs. Feeding them human food or leaving backpacks unattended are poor decisions that can be detrimental to a bear in the end. Be sure and visit the NPS website for helpful informative tips about what to do when coming upon a black bear. Have a great weekend. Good Morning,
A thin haze coats the atmosphere at sunrise, but skies are mostly clear of clouds to start this Friday. Skies finally began to open up late last night and the moon shined bright over the lodge. Conditions are looking superb for today now, with temps expected to reach the mid 60s. Should feel delightful at all elevations this afternoon. Saturday will be another gorgeous day in the mountains with only a slight chance of a pop-up afternoon rain shower. Expect the park to bustling with eager adventurers this weekend. Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
It’s been a dark and dreary mountain from top to bottom this first day of June. At times there has been the pitter-patter of light rain or mists, otherwise it’s soupy and socked in conditions all around. Perhaps this is a taste of what this year’s edition of June will bring, after 2022 saw it become the driest month on record. Temps are in the low 50s today and might not budge from there unless the sun comes out this afternoon. The forecast is calling for similar conditions tomorrow, but Saturday is looking like it could be stellar. Sunshine over the Smokies and high temps creeping close to 70° at our elevation. With families kickstarting those summer vacations as schools let out, and weekend warriors thirsty for a picturesque day to explore the woods, we could have a real busy weekend on our hands. So far trailheads like Alum Cave are getting filled shortly after 8:00 AM. It would be a wise bet to figure trailheads will be maxed out of permissible parking spaces well before that this weekend and as we cross into the summer season. So overnight guests and day hikers should plan accordingly. Have a great rest of the day. Good Morning,
Skies are a mix of sun and clouds as we wake up to the last Wednesday in May. This should be the norm for today, although there is a slight chance for a light afternoon shower. Temps will be similar to yesterday, which felt great in the sunshine but still cool in the clouds, with a high near 60°. Overnight lows continue to hang out in the 40s. The greenery is getting thick in the lowlands now and just about filled in atop the Smokies’ highest peaks. And the colorful blooms of flowers and shrubs are creeping up the slopes as well. The famous Catawba Rhododendron that line Alum Cave Trail are really putting on a show at Inspiration Point now, and will keep appearing higher up over the coming weeks. Even the wildlife are sharing in the spring season’s sense of renewal, with junco nests up and down the mountain full of new hatchlings. Have a great day. |
LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
May 2024
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